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Section 3 Selecting Appropriate Materials
Another example of a product recalled by the
CPSC is window blinds with pull cords that form
a loop. A 1999 CPSC investigation of window blind
deaths found that children could become entangled
in both inner and outer cords used to raise the slats
of blinds. Figure 8-1 shows a CPSC recall notice on
blinds with pull cords. Note the design of the cords
to see how young children could become entangled.
Figure 8-2 shows a CPSC repair kit for consumers
to use in correcting design defects. Aggressive
investigation by the CPSC has resulted in the
industry continuing to redesign window blinds.
Vehicle safety standards are set by the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The NHTSA has developed a database that
consumers can use to evaluate vehicle safety using
a 5-Star Safety Rating program. The NHTSA has
been a driving force for cutting-edge innovations in
vehicle safety. Some of these innovations are shown
in Figure 8-3.
Product design usually begins with a detailed
study of the quality and performance of a prod-
uct. Knowing what the product needs to do is not
enough. It is also necessary to know what percent-
age of the time the product has to work during its life
cycle (the time it will be in service up until it wears
out and is discarded or recycled). If someone’s life is
at stake, as in the case of NASA astronauts traveling
into space or race car drivers traveling at 200 miles
per hour, the product has to be designed to work 100
percent of the time. Other products such as cars or
trucks are designed to work most of the time. If they
had to work 100 percent of the time, the manufac-
turer’s warranty would be for the life of the vehicle,
not for 100,000 or fewer miles. Other products, such
as hand drills, shoes, and fishing reels are designed
to work for a much shorter time before wearing out.
The length of time that something has to work influ-
ences the selection of the materials that go into the
product. In many cases, cheaper materials will not
last as long as more expensive engineered (human
created) materials. However, just picking a material
because it is the most expensive is not a good move
either. The material has to be selected based on its
ability to do the job intended.
Making appropriate choices about material selec-
tion involves more than just picking off-the-shelf mate-
rials that are readily available and then changing these
materials using manufacturing processes. At first
glance, picking the right materials might appear to be
a very simple thing to do. Why would a company not
start by looking at other products on the store shelves
to identify materials that might be appropriate? Well,
this is done, but what currently exists might not
represent the best solution. More thought is needed
Figure 8-1. This bulletin describes the product recall for
window blinds with pull cords.
(Consumer Protection Safety Commission)
Inner cords on horizontal
blinds can form a loop that
can hang infants and
toddlers.
To prevent strangulation,
be sure safety cord stops
are installed on blinds.
For Free Fix-It Kit call Window Covering Safety Council:
1-800 506-4636
Remember! Keep cribs away from windows!
For more information contact:
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
Washington, D.C. 20207
Toll-Free Hotline: (800) 638-2772
Website: www. cpsc.gov
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Important Safety Recall!
Figure 8-2. Repair kit offered free by the CPSC. (Consumer
Protection Safety Commission)
Knot cord
to hold tassel
Equalizer
buckle